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It happened more than 40 hours ago, but it finally hit mainstream media: the murder of a Black Lives Matter activist who was very visible after Michael Brown's murder by white police, in Ferguson, two years ago.

I am now counting down to the spin wherein traffic stops--justified or not--suddenly become a criminal record that will 'explain' this man's murder.

Black people, particularly black women, who speak out about the abuse and discrimination they endure every single hour of every single day of their lives, are risking their safety, and that of their families, every time they stand up for their right to be treated the same way a white person is treated.

This is not a myth, and this is not an exaggeration--this is reality in the USoA, in the year of our lord 2016.

I'm uh, a bit confused how this comment belongs in this thread, Zaphod.

On the comment itself: it's not the classiest thing I've ever seen, but considering how many people cannot take time off work to vote--particularly people in minority groups in some states (not Colorado, alas)--promoting mail-in ballots seems like a good idea.

There are still people out there disputing that black US citizens and residents are disproportionately the victims of police violence.

And yet.

A white police officer armed with both Taser and gun, shot and killed a 66 year old black woman in New York. The emotionally disturbed victim was first brandishing scissors, and later on, a bat. The Taser was not deployed. The cop shot the woman twice in the torso, and killed her.

This is fantastic essay (it's actually a sermon). Please, please, please: if you are a white American, go read it.

Racism is not slavery. As President Obama said, it’s not avoiding the use
of the word Nigger. Racism is not white water fountains and the back of
the bus. Martin Luther King did not end racism. Racism is a cop severing
the spine of an innocent man. It is a 12 year old child being shot for playing with a toy gun in a state where it is legal to openly carry firearms.
But racism is even more subtle than that. It’s more nuanced. Racism is
the fact that “White” means “normal” and that anything else is different. Racism is our acceptance of an all white Lord of the Rings cast because
of “historical accuracy,” ignoring the fact that this is a world with an
entirely fictionalized history.

"If you are just now feeling the urgency of the need to fight systemic racism, chances are, you are white. I know, I know — I’m starting off with blanket assumptions about you and that doesn’t feel good; you literally don’t have to tell me about it, I’m quite familiar! But seriously, you are probably white or white passing (yes, I’m aware that Ben Carson and Lil Wayne exist and some people of color are capable of holding on to baffling amounts of denial, but I do not have whatever power it would take to break through that level of delusion so let’s just stick with new white folk). I’ve written down this handy list of things that you’ve missed so far that you’re going to need to catch up on, on your own time. This knowledge and preparation will not only make your fight against racism more effective, it will allow us to continue our progress as you catch up."

Yes, it's more than a bit sarcastic in tone, but it does cover the basics and explains a lot of things that white/white passing people simply do not see/hear/realize.

As a white-passing person with "good" intentions (I strive to push for a more egalitarian society), I found that article almost entirely useless. Perhaps the author felt a little better after venting, and maybe the editors and/or publishers feel a little better after clearing and publishing it. So maybe it helped them.

Maybe it can help wake up some well-intentioned ivy leaguer, but the odds seem slim. I like to think I understand where the author is coming from, but I can also admit that maybe I don't. Either way, it offered me personally nothing constructive. I'm poor, and from where I sit, that's a far bigger disadvantage than any skin color ever could be.